FIT: Maximizing the Power of Barre | Eye Of The Leoness

Get the results you want.

Get the results you want.

Barre workouts are fitsuperstars. Barre style fitness when done with focus and proper technique is a fat zapping, muscle defining, effective workout that can burn up to 500 calories per class. Barre workouts combine strength with flexibility. The combination of strength, cardio and flexibility not only guzzles calories but also helps promote a long lean body. Yes you heard me right, Barre workouts will make you stand taller and look leaner. (That is, if you are doing the workout correctly).

Some barre exercisers complain that they see little to know change in there in bodies after a serious barre fling. The lack of results are not the workouts fault; many new to barre exercisers fail to connect with the exercises and therefore fail to maximize their ROE (Return on Exercise). It can be difficult to connect with barre style moves ( I know that it took me awhile to REALLY connect). If you have tried a barre workout and your results didn’t meet the hype or you are thinking about trying a barre workout take a look at the common fous pas that compromise the power of barre results.

  • Lack of Focus: Barre style workouts are incredible, because they allow you the exerciser to control the intensity of the workout. That being said if you want an intense barre burn you have to focus in on the workout and push for the burn.
  • Eat Right: A Barre workout is calorie expensive. With the workout centered on toning and strengthening muscles you will notice a change to your metabolic rate. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Listen to your body and fuel accordingly. Fueling your body with nutritional rich foods is essential to your workout. Steer clear of foods that are high in caloric value so that they don’t creep up on you. Remember: “calories in, calories out.”
  • Skip’n the Cardio: Barre workouts tone muscles to make you look hot, but cardio is the ultimate fat zapper. If you have boycotted cardio in favour of only barre, you will not be able to see the incredible tone that is defining your physique. Make a goal to incorporate at least 30 minutes of cardio at least 3X’s a week.
  • Skip’n Class: Just like in highschool (or college) its hard to score a perfect GPA when you skip class and hide the homework under your bed. If you want supercharged results you have to show up. In order to see the results from any strength-training exercise, the strength training workout needs to be repeated (more than twice per week). Keep count of your class count. This will help you stay focused and committed.
  • Slackers at the Back: When I first got the hang of Barre style fitness, I was surprised how the difficulty factor of class kept increasing (even after I escaped the newbie stage). This goes back to the fact that with a Barre Style Workout you control the degree of difficulty. The upped workout challenge isn’t necessarily due to the degree of difficulty in movements but is related to an increase in body awareness. If you don’t feel constantly challenged ask your barretender for suggestions.
  • LISTEN and Accept Help: Barretenders cue for a reason. They cue to help you get the most out of your workout. Because Barre Style Workouts a focus on such specific muscles it is incredibly important to listen keenly to want the barretender is saying. Your Barretender wants you to get the best workout you can. Most barre moves zone in on teeny tiny accessory muscles with teeny tiny movements. In order to maximize the power of the moves you will need to set up the move properly. Pay attention to the adjustments around you and try to learn from mistakes so you can correct your form.